Grease Trap Cleaning San Rafael, CA
Grease trap cleaning San Rafael CA kitchens can arrange without a Marin surcharge: our North Bay truck is already up here. San Rafael is Marin's restaurant capital, from the Fourth Street corridor downtown through the taquerias and pupuserias of the Canal district to the shopping-center kitchens in Terra Linda and Northgate. We clean and pump grease traps across the city and provide the maintenance records the San Rafael Sanitation District and the Central Marin Sanitation Agency's FOG program expect.
Our North Bay route crosses the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge several times a week. Call (628) 221-4893 to schedule.
Grease trap cleaning in San Rafael: call now(628) 221-4893
Marin's FOG rules and who enforces them in San Rafael
Wastewater from most of San Rafael flows to the Central Marin Sanitation Agency's plant, and CMSA runs the FOG program that inspects food service establishments on behalf of the local sanitation districts. The San Rafael Sanitation District owns the collection lines downtown and in the Canal, while the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District covers Terra Linda, Northgate and the north end of the city.
Whichever district you are in, the standard is the same: grease control devices must be cleaned before grease and solids reach 25 percent of capacity, and records must be kept on site. CMSA inspectors do request them, and they visit downtown and Canal kitchens most often because that is where the sewer problems have been.
We provide a record with each service that lists the grease depth measured, the volume removed, the condition of the unit and the manifest number. That record satisfies CMSA and both districts.
Fourth Street's old buildings and the Canal's busy kitchens
Fourth Street downtown is lined with older two-story commercial buildings where the grease trap is typically in a rear kitchen or a basement reached through an alley door. We run hose from a legal parking spot on the side streets and schedule before opening so the crew is gone before the lunch rush.
The Canal district has some of the hardest-working kitchens in the county, cooking large volumes of carnitas, pupusas and fried foods through small traps. Those units often reach the 25 percent mark within a month, and we keep them on a tight rotation to prevent the overflows that bring inspectors.
Northgate, Terra Linda and the Marin Civic Center area host chain and fast-casual restaurants, a hospital kitchen and corporate cafeterias with in-ground interceptors that we pump on a fixed schedule.
- Alley and basement access on Fourth Street
- Tight rotations for Canal district kitchens
- Scheduled interceptor pumping in Terra Linda and Northgate
Grease Trap Pumping in San Rafael
We pump the full trap, including the solids, refill with clean water and leave a manifest-numbered record. Trucks park on side streets downtown or in the lot at Northgate and the hose reaches the trap.
Grease Interceptor Cleaning in San Rafael
In-ground interceptors at Northgate, the Civic Center area and the hospital are cleaned compartment by compartment, with baffles scraped, outlet tees cleared and the sample box inspected for carry-over grease.
Grease Interceptor Pumping in San Rafael
Hospital, hotel and campus kitchens with large interceptors are pumped on a scheduled rotation coordinated with facilities staff, keeping the visit brief and the records complete.
Where we work in San Rafael
We serve all of San Rafael: Downtown and Fourth Street, the Canal district, Gerstle Park, Dominican, Sun Valley, Terra Linda, Northgate, Marinwood, the Civic Center area, and the Andersen Drive and Francisco Boulevard commercial zones, plus neighboring Larkspur, Corte Madera and Novato.
Call for same-week service in San Rafael(628) 221-4893Nearby cities we also serve from the North Bay route
The truck that covers San Rafael runs the same route through the cities below, so multi-location operators can put every kitchen on one schedule. Full details for each city, and the complete service areas list, are one click away. Not sure which service you need? Read our short guides to grease trap cleaning and grease interceptor cleaning.
One number for every location: call now(628) 221-4893San Rafael grease trap questions
Who runs grease trap inspections in San Rafael?
The Central Marin Sanitation Agency runs the FOG inspection program for the local sanitation districts. The San Rafael Sanitation District covers downtown and the Canal; Las Gallinas Valley covers Terra Linda and Northgate.
How often should a Canal district restaurant clean its grease trap?
Every four weeks is typical for high-volume kitchens with small traps. We measure grease depth every visit and can extend the interval if the trap is filling more slowly.
Can you reach a basement trap on Fourth Street?
Yes. We park on a side street, run hose through the alley or rear door and protect the floors. Most downtown jobs are scheduled before opening.
Do you provide records that CMSA inspectors will accept?
Yes. Each service comes with a record listing the date, grease depth, volume removed, condition and manifest number, which is what CMSA and the districts ask to see.
Do you service the interceptors at Northgate Mall restaurants?
Yes. Northgate and the Terra Linda shopping centers are on a fixed rotation for their in-ground interceptors.
Is used cooking oil handled the same way as trap waste?
No. Fryer oil should be kept in a separate container and picked up by a recycler. Pouring it down the drain fills the trap within days.
What is the cost of grease trap cleaning in San Rafael?
It depends on the trap size and how much material we remove. Call (628) 221-4893 with the unit size and we will give you a firm quote.
Can you come across the bridge for an emergency?
Yes. Our North Bay crews cross the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge regularly, and emergency pump-outs are dispatched seven days a week.
Do you service Larkspur, Corte Madera and Mill Valley as well?
Yes. Central and southern Marin are on the same route and can be scheduled with your San Rafael location.
Why does my grease trap overflow even though I have it cleaned every three months?
For a busy kitchen with a small trap, three months is often too long. If the grease depth is well past 25 percent when we open it, the interval needs to be shorter or the trap needs to be larger.
Do you pump the hospital and campus kitchens in San Rafael?
Yes. Hospital and institutional kitchens with large interceptors are pumped on a scheduled rotation coordinated with their facilities departments.
What does the record you leave actually say?
It lists the date, the trap or interceptor size, the grease and solids depth we measured before pumping, the volume removed, any damage or missing parts we noticed, and the manifest number for disposal.